Mehmetçik

Turkish

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish محمدجك (Mehmedcik), equivalent to Mehmet +‎ -çik. Compare Tommy (“British soldier”).

Noun

Mehmetçik (definite accusative Mehmetçiki, plural Mehmetçikler)

1. A common soldier of the Turkish army.
   • 2022 December 11, tweet by Ministry of Defense quoted by Anadolu Agency[1]:

     Mehmetçikten teröristlere bir darbe daha!

     Another blow against terrorists from our soldiers!

References

• Avery, Robert et al., editors (2013), The Redhouse Dictionary Turkish/Ottoman English, 21st edition, Istanbul: Sev Yayıncılık, →ISBN